Pune: Sambar Falls In 50-Feet Well, Rescued By Maharashtra Forest Department And Wildlife SOS

Pune, 30th January 2023: A Sambar stag was found trapped inside a 50-feet-deep open well near Ghatghar village in Maharashtra’s Junnar Forest Range. In a joint operation, the Maharashtra Forest Department and Wildlife SOS rescued the deer and ensured its safe release back into the wild.

In an all too familiar scenario in India, that sheds light on the dangers of open wells, a male Sambar was found trapped inside a 50-feet-deep open well near Ghatghar village, Maharashtra on Sunday.

On finding the majestic stag in peril, the concerned locals immediately alerted the forest department and the Wildlife SOS team. Equipped with the necessary rescue gear, a three-member team of trained rescuers from the NGO rushed to assist the forest officers in the rescue operation. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the Sambar was sitting on a ledge on the inner side of the well.

The rescuers lowered safety nets and ropes, and carefully extricated the deer. After the NGO’s veterinary doctor performed an on-site health assessment, the deer was safely released back into its habitat.

Dr. Chandan Sawane, Veterinary Officer, Wildlife SOS said, “The Sambar was a male, estimated to be 3-4 years old. We discovered that the deer experienced minor wounds on the hind region of his body. However, he was fit for release and walked without showing any sign of discomfort, and ran into the nearby forest.”

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO, Wildlife SOS said, “Open wells can be a threat to all types of wild animals. With at least 30-50 of these wells present in each village, there are numerous instances of wild animals, and even human beings falling into them. Earlier this month, our team rescued a Golden jackal from another well in Maharashtra. In this case, we are grateful to the villagers and the forest officials for their cooperation in this rescue.”

After years of rescuing wild animals from open wells, Wildlife SOS is now trying to solve the problem at the root and cover open wells across rural Maharashtra.

Ajit Shinde, Range Forest Officer, Junnar said, “Open wells are a common threat to wildlife around villages, and our teams are always vigilant to provide any assistance when it comes to rescuing animals in distress.”

The Sambar is a large deer native to India, southern China and south-east Asia. Over the years, the population of Sambars in the wild has been threatened due to loss of habitat and poaching, making them a vulnerable species under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.